Girl Scout councils to merge

Campbell Hall — Sarah Wells Girl Scout Council, Inc., has announced its upcoming re-alignment with four other local councils, including Girl Scouts of Rockland, Girl Scouts of Westchester-Putnam, Girl Scouts of Ulster County and Girl Scouts of Dutchess County. The new council, to be called Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson Council, Inc., is scheduled to be in existence as of Oct. 1. Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson Council will serve more than 35,000 girls, ages 5 to 17, and 14,000 adult volunteers across Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, Sullivan, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties. As such, girls will have access to a broader range of opportunities and a larger, more diverse selection of programs which will help the organization further its mission to help girls develop courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place. “This transition will be seamless to Girl Scouts across the region except for the fact that there will be more opportunities for them to develop leadership skills that will benefit them throughout their lives” according to Barbara Sampson, executive director of Sarah Wells Girl Scout Council. “The new council will maintain its presence in each of its current locations so that volunteers and girls will still have local access to resources and staff.” The re-alignment is part of a national movement by Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., aimed at streamlining administrative services to ensure the most efficient use of resources. Representatives from each of the current councils including Board members, volunteers, staff, girl members and community leaders have overseen the realignment process and are helping to create the master plan for the new Council. “Our goal is to make sure all vested parties have input in the process,” said Sampson. Sarah Wells Girl Scout Council, a United Way agency, serves more than 10,000 members is Orange and Sullivan counties, as well as in five towns in northeast Pike County, Pa. The council is dedicated to helping all girls everywhere build character and gain skills for success in the real world. In an accepting and nurturing environment and in partnership with committed adult volunteers, girls develop strong values, leadership skills, social conscience, and conviction about their own potential and self-worth that will serve them all their lives. For more information about Girl Scouting, call the Girl Scout Council at 845-361-2898 or visit its Web site at www.swgcs.org.